Spiral hinge



C. R. DALEY SPIRAL HINGE March 29, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 2, 1963 TO OPEN INVENTOR CARL R. DALE) W- TOR C. R. DALEY SPIRAL HINGE March 29, W66

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 2, 1963 TO OPEN INVENTOR CARL R. DALE) BY Ww A ORNE March 29, 19% c. F2. DALEY 13 9 SPIRAL HINGE Filed Jan. 2, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 643; ?Oc 62b TO OEN DOOR l INVENTOR NARL R. DALE) ORNEY United States Patent 3,242,523 SPIRAL HINGE Carl R. Daley, Bloomington, Minn, assignor to Sperry Rand (Iorporation, New York, N .Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 249,072 1 Claim. (Cl. 16171) This invention relates to hinges, and more particularly to a class of hinges which are spirally formed. While this invention has reference to hinges of this type for general application, they are especially intended for use in the electronics industry, for hanging equipment cabinet doors.

Heretofore, hinges or this type have been produced in image mating pairs, rather than identically formed, and have been rotatably joined together by a pintle. The manufacture of these mating pairs requires a separate means for forming each member, since they are not identical. They further require the manfuacture of the extra part of each hinge, namely the pintle. This invention overcomes the additional expense of making different mating members because both members can be identically formed, for instance, by extrusion. Additionally, no pintle is employed to couple the members together, since they are self-coupling.

The hinges of the prior art are lacking in the inherent ability to act as a barrier. Being solidly formed, hinges constructed persuant to this invention, operate as a highly effective barrier. This barrier is applicable to moisture, dust, air, and temperature, and can be further enhanced by the addition of appropriate seals.

A problem peculiar to electronic equipment arises in either the exclusion or restriction of radio frequency (RF) signals. Prior to this invention special steps had to be taken to assure isolation at the hinged door of a cabinet which was subject to emitting RF, or whose operation might be affected by outside generated RF signals. This invention has alleviated the necessity of providin special RF barrier shielding, since the hinge itself can operate effectively as an RF shield.

There are numerous situations in which hinges are used where it is desirable and often necessary to be able to disconnect, and later re-engage, the hinge members. A common example of this is the removal of cabinet doors to permit a free access to the interior of a cabinet for purposes of maintenance and repair.

Prior to development of the present invention, this hinge disconnection operation was generally accomplished by pulling the hinge pin from the hinge, thereby allowing the two members to disengage. This approach has the serious disadvantage, however, that during the reengagement operation a long and relatively thin pintle, such as used in piano-type hinges, must be forcibly pushed through a plurality of hinge couplings. In such an operation the pintle often bends or jams due to the hinge members coming out of alignment. This tendency to be difiicult to re-engage causes the prior art hinge to be wasteful of material in the necessity of replacing damaged pintles, and wasteful of man-hours of time necessary to make the necessary equipment changes.

The present invention overcomes the problem of reengagement following disassembly in that no pintel is required. The assembly is such that the mating hinge members slide together, and are self-restrained due to the nature of the spiral coupling.

It is, accordingly, a primary object of this invention to provide an improved rotatable coupling device.

Another object is to provide an improved hinge.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatable coupling device which is an effective dust seal.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide an improved rotatable coupling which is an effective radio frequency signal isolation barrier.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved hinge having dust-seal and RF signal isolation characteristics by forming separate spiral members each having a predetermined number of convolutions on a diminishing radius, the members being constructed to form a slidable contact at the mating surfaces of the intimately arranged convolution of the members.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved hinge whose rotatably associated members are self-coupled.

Another object of this invention is to provide a hinge whose members are integrally formed and having its angle of rotational movement self-limited.

This invention contemplates forming each coupling member in similar or identical fashion; the preferred method of forming being to extrude the mating coupling members through the same die. Other suitable methods would include roll-forming, and casting.

Yet another primary object, therefore, is to provide an improved method of manufacturing a rotatable coupling device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of manufacturing rotatable coupling devices wherein each cooperable member is identically formed.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved method of manufacturing hinges wherein each cooperable hinge member is identically extruded.

While this improved product might be produced by other means and methods, that contemplated and described herein is especially advantageous and desirable in promoting economy in the cost of producing the hinges and insuring the accuracy in the resultant mating mechanical surfaces which form the hinge joint.

The object of this invention may be realized by the means and processes described in the following summary. Identical mating hinge members are formed, as by extruding said members through a common die, in a configuration having a predetermined number of spiral convolutions on a diminishing radius oriented transversely to the length of said members. The respective mating members are interleaved with their respective convolutions forming slidable contact at the mating surfaces. With the hinge in a closed position there is continuous contact throughout the coupling contact which operates effectively as a dust seal, and forms an RF barrier. The mating interleaved spiral members form the rotatable coupling and are self-restraining to thereby alleviate the necessity of pintle-coupling.

The above and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a spiral hinge.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a spiral hinge member with an associated mounting means.

FIG. 3a is a top view of a hinge made up of members as shown in FIG. 2, and being in the closed position.

FIG. 3b is a top view of the hinge assembly of FIG. 3a, but shown in the open position.

FIG. 3c is a top plan view of the hinge illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b, and illustrates the relationship of the hinge members at an intermediate point when being rotated.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a spiral hinge-member with an alternate mounting means.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a spiral hinge assembled from members as shown in FIG. 4, and being oriented in a closed position.

FIG. 6 is a partial side view of a corner-mounted spiral hinge including a restraining base plate.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a longitudinal spiral hinge in the closed position.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the product will be described, and thereafter the method of manufacturing it. It will be borne in mind that the particular spiral coupling apparatus shown in the drawings are illustrations designed especially for hanging doors on electronic equipment, and that in other applications the proportions and dimensions of the parts might be varied within the scope of the invention.

Referring to the isometric illustration in FIG. 1, it will be seen that the spiral hinge has two members, namely an inner member 10 and an outer member 12. The inner member 10 is adapted to be attached to a cornermounted door 14 as means 16; and the outer member 12 adapted to be attached to the cabinet wall 18 as by tab means 20. A corner channel 22 is illustrated as supporting the cabinet wall 18 and the hinge assembly, thereby pivotally mounting door 14. Each hinge member is identically formed from stock material in a geometric configuration wherein a spiral is formed having a predetermined number of convolutions closing upon itself on a diminishing radius, the convolutions being oriented transversely to the length of the hinge. The surface 24 of inner member 10 corresponds to the corner-channel mounted member 26, and operates to limit the rotational movement of the door when it comes in contact with surface 20. It will be noted that the configuration illustrates an elongated member extending over the full cabinet and door heights. This is intended to be descriptive rather than limitive. It will further be noted that by providing appropriate restraining means, such as additional transverse bearing pins, that multiple doors may be separately mounted on a single elongated mounting spiral. Such a configuration can be utilized in providing closures for compartmentalized cabinets.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of one of the similarly formed coupling elements which utilize the inventive concept. The particular configuration therein illustrated is that of a spiral of Archimedes, labelled 30. The turns, or convolutions, close on themselves, and have a spacing between the spiral surfaces. The spiral convolutions are formed according the following relationship:

where r=radius length to any point (X, Y) on the curve, and

is different for each such point;

a=length defined by Polar Subnormal ON;

0=angle of displacement of point (X, Y) from a reference axis.

It will be noted that radius r diminishes from the outer convolution toward the inner convolutions. The spiral illustrated in FIG. 2 can be seen to be 540. This value is illustrative for a hinge designed to allow 180 of rotation, and it will be shown below that the spiral may be of a substantially smaller size, for instance 450, while remaining self-restraining.

The mounting means 32 includes fastening tabs 34 and 36 which are illustrated as being of identical length, and oriented at right angles to one another. They may be utilized to attach the hinge member to the support or the door. This attachment may be way of gluing, bolts, rivets, screws, or welding, depending upon the nature of the material being utilized to form the hinge and member to which it is to be attached.

It is contemplated that the spiral coupling members can b fabricated from the stock material which is used to form the door or the cabinet structure, whereby an integral structure is formed, and additional means for fastening are not required. Such integral forming applies to objects other than doors wished ot be rotatably joined by this spiral technique.

The thickness 1 of the spiral member 30 is uniform throughout the range of spiral convolutions which are external to the integrally formed mounting means 32. The arrangement must be such that the distance a satisfies the relationship:

This relationship assures that when the two coupling members are assembled to form the hing, there will be adequate space to allow relative movement between the members. The double-member thickness 2 must be equal to or less than the distance cl (see FIG. 3a). This assures adequate spacing within the spiral convolutions to allow rotational movement of the members. It will be not-ed that in the event more than two spiral members are desired to be interleaved to form coupling for more than two associated members, it will be necessary to increase the distance d (see FIG. 2). Such an increase will accommodate the additional thickness t that such additional members would add, and will thereby allow ample space within the convolutions to permit relative rotational movement.

Tab 36 is oriented at an angle to the outer surface of spiral 30, and operates to terminate the arcuate surface. Tab 34 is at an angle to the inner surface of spiral 3G, and operates to terminate that arcuate surface.

Hinge members having a top view of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 are shown in cross-sectional views assembled into a hinge in FIG. 3a, FIG. 3b and FIG. 30. The special configuration is for a door having a swing. The members corresponding to FIG. 2 are designated by the same reference numerals with alphabetic distinction added.

Fl G. 3a illustrates the hinge member relationship when the door is in the closed position; FIG. 31) illustrates the relationship when the door is fully opened;and FIG. 30 illustrates the relationship in the partially opened position. For purposes of illustration, stationary member 33 provides mounting structure to support hinge member 40. Attachment to stationary member 38 of attaching tab 34a is accomplished by means well known in the art. Hinge member 44 is attached to door 46 via fastening tab 36b by means well known in the art. The method of attachment is adapted to the material of the hinge and the material to which it is to be attached.

In the closed position the arrangement of the spiral portions is such that the outer spiral 36b encompasses a portion of the inner spiral 30a. When the door is opened (see FIG. 3b), the arrangement is such that the previous inner spiral 30a, now encompasses a portion of spiral 30b. This relationship will de discussed more fully below.

Tabs 36a and 34b operate as auxiliary attaching means when different mounting configurations are desired, and operate as stop members to limit the arc of rotation of the hinge in one direction. They operate also to provide additional rigidity.

In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 3a it will be noted that there is continuous intimate contact between portions of spiral members 30a and 3% at mating surfaces Btlc. The outer surface of the convolutions of spiral 30a contact the inner surface of the convolutions of spiral 30b whereby a slidable contact 30c is formed therebetween. It is this continuous contact 300 which provides the effective dust and moisture barrier, and gives substantially a solid shield to provide the RF barner.

In the opened position illustrated in FIG. 3b, it will be noted that there is continuous intimate contact between portions of spiral members 30a and 30b at mating surface 300. It will be noted that the relative positions of the respective convolutions of the spirals have changed places from that described in association with FIG. 3a. The outer surface of the convolutions of spiral 30a is now exposed, and it is the inner surface of spiral 30a which is in contact with the outer surface of the convolutions of spiral 3%.

This exchange of the relative orientations of the respective spiral members may best be understood with reference to FIG. 30, wherein the door is shown in approximately a 90 relation to the cabinet wall 38. In this position, it can be seen that neither spiral 30a nor spiral member 30!) could be considered in the encompassing position. Mating contact 300 has been substantially broken but mating contact 30c has not yet come completely into mating contact. It can be seen that the exterior portion of the tip of spiral 30b is slidably contacting an interior portion of the convolution of spiral 30a at a surface contact 50. Likewise, the outer portion of the tip of spiral 30a is slidably contacting a portion of the inner surface of a convolution of member 3012 at a contacting surface 52. As the door is moved into a more open position, a larger surface of the inner portion of spiral 3011 comes in contact with the outer surface of spiral 30b. This continues until such time as the relative spiral members have a relationship 30c as shown in FIG. 3b, and describes the process by which the relationship of the spirals one to the other is reversed from that existing in the open position. Further, it shows how the respective halves are self-restraining, and operate without the necessity of a pintle.

It will be noted that in the opening or closing positions that some slack exists in the spiral coupling prior to the locking-in that occurs at both extremities. This slack is minimal, however, since the moment is limited by the length of the hinge members in combination with the distance d that is designed into the respective hinge members.

Examination of FIGS. 3a-3c illustrates that each hinge member has an axis of rotation which is independent from the axis of the other member, the axes being substantially parallel.

FIG. 4 illustrates the top view of one hinge member designed to permit 180 of rotation, which has a spiral 60 formed in a manner similar to that described above. It will be noted, however, that in this configuration the total angle of the spiral is only 495. The angle of the spiral may be reduced at least to 450 without impairing its coupling ability. As described above, the thicknesst of the spiral member is uniform throughout the portion of the convolutions which are apart from the associated mounting means 62. The mounting tabs 64 and 66 are of equal length and are disposed at right angles to one another. Surface 68 is arranged to operate as part of a stop means and is at an angle to the outer surface of spiral 60 whereby the continuous arcuate surface is terminated. The arrangement is such that surface 68 comes in contact with a portion of surface 70 of an associated hinge member, to thereby limit the angle of rotation.

Hinge members of the type illustrated in FIG. 4 are shown assembled into an operative hinge in FIG. 5, and is a top view of a door in a closed position. The members and surfaces corresponding to those described in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals wit-h alphabetic distinction added for the respective members.

Mounting member 69 provides structure to support hinge member 62a. Attachment is accomplished by fastening mounting member 69 to the mounting tab 64a. The door 72 is attached to hinge member 62b by fastening to mounting tab 64b. As described above, these attachments can well be performed by methods Well known in the art which are commensurate with the material of the hinge and of the door.

Tabs 66a and 64b operate as auxiliary attaching means when difierent mounting configurations are desired, and operate to form a portion of the stop mechanism to limit the are of rotation of the hinge.

In the closed position illustrated in FIG. 5, stop surface 68b is in contact with a portion 70a of mounting tab 66a. When the door is fully opened, stop surface 68a is in contact with a portion of surface 70b of mount ing tab 66b.

In a manner similar to that described above it can be seen that when the door is in a fully closed position, that there is continuous intimate contact between portions of spiral members 60a and 60b at mating surface 600. The outer surface of the convolutions of spiral 6% being in contact with the inner surface of the convolutions of the spiral 60a forms a firm coupling while retaining the characteristic of slidable contact therebetween. In the opened position, the relative locations of spiral 60b and 60a are again reversed. This change of relative location is accomplished in a manner as described above in conjunction with FIG. 30.

Once the two halves of the spiral hinge have been manufactured, attached to the respective members, and slid together, it is necessary to provide a means for preventing the movable portion from sliding apart longitudinally. This is accomplished by fastening a base plate 8% to the bottom of the rigidly mounted hinge member such that the outer movable member 62b bears on it. The weight of the movable half of the hinge, including the weight of the door 72, will be supported and pivoted on the base plate. It is contemplated that this base plate may be constructed of nylon or other suitable materials having a durable characteristic. The use of such material in the formulation of the base plate tends to eliminate friction as the door swings open, and reduces excessive rubbing of metal on metal which would be present if other materials would be used. The base plate 30 is attached to the fixed member 69 by conventional methods well known in the art, e.g., gluing, welding, screws, etc.

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation view of hinge assembly illustrated in FIG. 5. Visible members corresponding to those illustrated in FIG. 5 have the same reference numeral designation. The relationship is such that base plate is fastened to support member 69, as described above, whereby door-mounted hinge member 66b forms a bearing contact 82 at the upper surface of base plate 80. The bearing contact 82 retrains the downward movement of the door-mounted hinge member, and forms the slidable contact which permits the door to rotate.

FIG. 7 illustrates another configuration of the spiral coupling members wherein the attached door is shown in the closed position. The nature of the spiral herein de scribed is that of a logarithmic or equiangular spiral. The requirements to form a logarithmic spiral follow the mathematical relationship:

where m=slope of the tangent to the curve and is greater than 0, or

The tangent to the curve at any point makes a constant angle a, which is equal to the cotm, with the radius vector as the angle 0 approaches minus 00, and r approaches 0. From this it can be seen that the curve winds an indefinite number of times around the origin.

With the above described relationships in mind, a hinge is formed as shown in EEG. 7. The fixed hinge member is attached to the cabinet 92 by mounting tab 94. The door 96 is attached to the associated hinge member 98 by mounting tab 100. It will be noted in this configuration that the cross-sectional thickness 2 diminishes as the radius of the spiral diminishes. Other than the method of forming the spiral which comprise the coupling,

the operation of the longarithmic spiral hinge is identical with that described above for the hinge utilizing the spiral of Archimedes.

While the illustrative examples described above have been confined to Archimedean and the logarithmic spirals, it will be noted that other geometrical shapes of the spiral are possible. For instance, hyperbolic spirals, involutes or circles, or other types of eccentric curves could be utilized with substantially the same success as those described above, and the choice depends primarily on the shape desired and the type of material from which the hinge is to be fabricated.

Having considered the operation of the spiral hinges, the method of manufacturing of such hinges will next be considered. The preferred method of manufacturing the members of the hinges described above is a process of extrusion of a ductal metal, such as aluminum, or synthetic materials, such as nylon, through a suitably shaped die. The spirals of the die are designed in the configuration of the selected mathematical relationship. The extrusion can be of a continuous nature with the mating members being cut from the continuous member in predetermined lengths, or each member can be separately extruded. The nature of the mounting tabs is designed to suit the desired purpose to which the hinge is to be put. These purposes include, but are not limited to, mounting cabinet doors, mounting locker doors, mountng oven doors, or any other of the various situations to which the spiral coupling may be put. For instance, when the hinge is utilized to mount substantially heavy doors it is desirable to coat the surfaces of the convolutions of the spiral with a silicone lubricant. It will be noted that other suitable lubricants may be utilized. Having extruded the pair of hinge members, normally through the same die, and having provided the lubricating coating when desired, it is then necessary only to slip the two halves together longitudinally. This is accomplished by placing the two members in exact alignment end-to-end and rotating one member or the other at least 90 such that the spirals are allowed to slip freely together. When slipped together, the outer spiral embraces at least a portion of the inner spiral.

It will be noted that the hinges described above are all limited to a 180 rotational movement by the design of the spiral in conjunction with the stops. It could equally as well be designed to be an angle of rotation less than 180 by simply adjusting the number of convolutions of the spiral in conjunction with the placement of the stop surfaces. Having slipped the two halves together, it is then necessary only to attach the hinge to the desired members that are desired to be pivotally mounted. Once assembled, it is normally necessary to provide a restraining pad 80 of the type described above when the hinge is mounted in the vertical position to prevent the door from slipping longitudinally downward from its desired position. When the hinge is mounted in a horizontal manner, it is desirable to place restraining pads at both ends of the hinges to prevent lateral movement.

It will be noted that other methods of manufacturing of the hinge members may equally as well be employed such as roll forming or casting, but the process of extrusion offers the most significant economy in the program of mass-producing such hinges.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed and in the method of manufacture disclosed provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claim. Having now, therefore, fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is set forth below.

What is claimed is:

Hinging apparatus comprising: first and second cooperable hinge members, each having a portion thereof formed in a predetermined spiral configuration having a predetermined number of convolutions on a diminishing radius, said spiral being oriented in a position transverse to the length of said members; rotation restricting means integral with each of said members for limiting the angle of relative rotation between said first and second members, the spirals being cooperatively arranged so that each of the spiral portions encompasses at least a portion of the other spiral member when the hinge is in the opened and closed positions in a manner to form a slidable contact at a mating surface of said spirals, said spirals including first and second bearing contacts integral with each of said hinge members and between respective surfaces of said first and second hinge members, said bearing contacts on each one of the respective members being disposed at right angles to one another, and one of said contacts on each respective member forming a termination of an outer surface of the respective spiral and another of said contacts forming a termination of an inner surface of said respective spiral.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 411,163 9/1889 Miller 235 538,318 4/1895 Brown et al. 160-229 1,320,143 10/1919 Hartman 16-176 1,734,810 11/1929 Jeffers l6-171 2,183,809 12/1939 Hall 16128.1 2,365,378 12/1944 Benson 16171 2,645,841 7/1953 Bevens 2911 2,658,233 11/1953 Kimmel 16172 2,852,802 9/1958 Seby 16-171 2,866,997 1/1959 Eskridge et a1 16171 2,888,734 6/1959 Ring et al 2911 2,932,056 4/1960 Crosswell 16171 JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Examiner.

D. L. BURGESS, Assistant Examiner. 

